Gravetye Manor Hotel and Restaurant

This is a review for the restaurant at Gravetye - not the Hotel (which was excellent but a lot more stuffier than it has been on previous stays!) I have eaten at Gravetye Manor many times, but this is the first time since George Blogg left. Such a disappointment. What was a celebration of wonderful fresh food, beautifully presented - where you could actually taste what you are eating. Now - same as every other restaurant - ingredients piled high, very pretty but just drowned out with reductions, sauces etc. I presume the ingredients remain fresh (although not that convinced) but I couldn't tell you as everything is just swamped. Such a shame. Service was good, wouldn't say warm - perfunctory would capture it. I don't know if this change is representative of a change in direction from the owners but the whole experience was not what it used to be - a great shame.

I chose this venue to host a birthday celebration with my friends. We started off with the garden tour conducted by the very knowledgeable Tom. Followed by drinks and a magnificent lunch in the private dining room. The staff were friendly and professional and we honestly could not fault it. Highly recommended and we would certainly all return. Thank you so much to all the staff for making the day so memorable.

From the moment we arrived till our departure, everything was near perfect. The staff is universally helpful and always smiling. Even unusual requests were fulfilled. We were not able to eat the full prix fixe dinner so we were allowed to pick fewer courses and were charged accordingly. The rooms are immaculate, beautifully furnished and with all amenities. The gardens that surround the property are breathtaking especially in May when everything is in bloom. Of course all this comes at a price but it is definitely worth every penny. As an aside, the dinners were exceptional especially the sea bass and the lamb.

An exceptional experience. Firstly, the garden was magical in the sunshine. Sam, the gardener although busy took time to discuss the planting and the thought behind its creation. Probably the best private garden for miles. The lunch was perfect. Each course beautifully presented and delicious. The sommelier paired the wine to my pork dish just right. The service matched the meal. A mention to Mia? Our waitress who topped off a memorable day.

We revisited this property that we enjoyed more than 35 years ago ! It has been updated and a lovely restaurant extension has been added. The grounds and gardens are beautiful. Tulips still in bloom punctuated with azaleas and many other colorful blooms. This is the perfect time to visit Gravetye. We stayed in The Pear room which was very comfortable but I suspect may be very warm in summer as there doesn’t seem to be air conditioning. Dinner was served in a room with a great view of the gardens. The food had several Japanese references. I think some worked whilst other dishes seemed contrived. The service was excellent compared to breakfast service the next morning. I had to ask several times for my coffee, my toast and the recommended pastries when I ordered never even arrived. What a difference a day makes. Perhaps there is a completely different team at breakfast. They need to learn from the team at dinner. Otherwise it was a nice reunion with a lovely property that brought back great memories.